New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-01
THE SHARP CONSPIRACY.

The impartial observer of the extraor-
binary proceedings in the case Of Jacob Sharp
can hardly escape the conclusion that the aim
of his lawyers is to secure him an asS lum In
Canada or in Europe. They are continually
beating the air with their frantic appeals for
claw, and Justice though every on knows
that these cries are hollow and hypocriticai
The trouble with their C lent is that Judge
Barrett gave him altog ether too much law
and Justice for his comfort Sharp's lawyers
really have no hope of securing reversal
on appeal. They know how thoroughly
equ pped Judge Bar EFT is on all points of law
and procedure, and they are familiar with
the history of the previous "boodlc' cascs in
which this able Judge was fully sus'a lne1 By
the general Tern of the Supreme Count and
by the Court of Appeals Their only hope is
to get stay Of proceedings from Judge
Potter Then they look forward to obtaining
the release of their clIens on bail. How Ion g
after that would Jacob Sharp remain within
the reach of the New-YOrk courts About
As long as John Keenan, and William Moloney
did when they realized that they were i'll
danger of arrest.
We feel confident that Judge Potter is 4
Hldl1 VI Ooo anu VI WV hNN'
insight to be made use of to further any
such infamous scheme as his His character
is stainless, his record unblemisLed, and his
rel utaton for ability is high. We cannot
believe that he can possibly lend his al in
any way to save Sharp from the just punish
mcnt of his crimes. There are m ny reasons
for bel ewing that though Sharp's friends
and allies knew that Ju &c Ptter was FAR
above the reach of any corrupt influence, they
hoped to bring to bear upon him such indi-
rect pressure, political and Otherwise that
he would be unconsciousIy turned aside from
the proper path and would come to Sharp's
relief. There is no excuse In CLOS ing over
facts which force Themselves upon the aten-
ton. Sharp was defended by one OF tho
strongest and cosliest arrays OF counsel ever
sc in court in this country o. any other.
When, after his cow ction. BOurkc Cochran
was called into the case it was Perfectly evident
that it vas no longer merely legal arg ments
that were to be relied on TO save Sharp, but
that politics, and Tammany politics at that.
were to be introduced Such a wicked at
tempt to obtain immunity for q justly con
vcted criminal must surely fail 1t would be
the most serious scandal and outrage OF the
time if it were not defeated. 1t is wholly
incredible that Judge Potter sh uld be misled
or turned aside one step from the plain path
of duty by the sounding fustian OF Bourke
Cochran or by any meetricious and prth'-
gate appeals to his pity and co npassion for
criminal who mcr is exact Just ce, nothing
more and nothing less. p litcll int igucs,
personal friendships. the mcrcenary winnings
nf faf-p tod w.
maudlin walls of mu hy-hearted sentimental
ists-all these should not weigh a scruple in
the balance
The clamorous protests of Sharp's hire
ling lawyers against the 'clamor' OF press
and public that a rich thief shall be
Treated exactly as a poor one is treated, are
irresist bly, comical. They remind one Of the
ob jectlons OF receiver OF stolen goods to the
shouts of = Stop thief" with VIII Oh he is pur-
sued by the people who have been robbed by
his principal. Surely thi sort of rhetoric can
not go far with judicial nina.